The identified enemy is the Azoff People’s Liberation Front, with an estimated deployment of two regiment-level forces. The supreme commander is ‘Nur Ezenner.’
At the 32nd Division’s emergency operations headquarters.
Amidst the gathering of key personnel including the division commander, the division intelligence officer continued their report, sweating profusely.
“Nur Ezenner?”
“He was also a commander on the Azoff side during the Quernen War. In the past, he commanded a battalion-sized unit, but now he commands two regiments.”
“A cockroach that deserves to be crushed has come crawling back again.”
Colonel Oleksiy Nova, commander of the 124th Infantry Regiment under the 32nd Division, twisted his face as he spoke. Not only Colonel Oleksiy was filled with anger.
The 32nd Division had played a major role in the previous Quernen War. The warriors who had turned the tide in countless battles were still part of that division.
“Are there any other public pieces of information?”
“Abdul Jabaddedehtan was also identified. He was responsible for the attack on a coast guard barracks near Fort Morok last year, killing thirty-three people.”
“…”
General Kinbel Resanchef of the 32nd Division bit his lip angrily, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth.
“The city must be experiencing a massacre.”
There was no need to look further.
These ruthless human butchers had spread their cruelty widely in not only the previous war but also in numerous local conflicts.
The city must have been completely transformed into a hellish scene by now. General Kinbel recalled the atrocities he witnessed when he was still a lieutenant colonel.
Decapitated bodies left on the streets.
Horribly mutilated civilians.
Mentally broken girls.
The gates of hell had opened once more.
“What should we do? Waiting for reinforcements from the central command might be too late.”
While relatively well-equipped forces from the western and central corps were hurriedly dispatched, it was clear that as an infantry division, it would take some time to reach the battlefield.
Moreover, this was a city. Azoff was a different organization from the usual bandits crossing the border every day. It was a substantial armed group posing a clear threat to national security.
The very structure of the command chain, including the commander and two regiment commanders, proved that they were not a force to be underestimated.
In the current situation, the strongest and most reliable force the 32nd Division commander could rely on was…
“When will Major Sony Chepelin’s Special Response Brigade arrive?”
This was the special response brigade organized by Ukraine’s sole grand mage.
“The 1st Mobile Battalion deployed in the west is moving, but it will take another two days.”
“…Two days.”
Kinbel groaned. He couldn’t even imagine how many citizens would die within those two days.
More importantly,
His beloved daughter was there. He wanted to rush troops into Maniopol immediately, but…
“Arwen.”
He was a general. He couldn’t sacrifice his subordinates’ lives for his family.
“Operations advisor, can we attempt to retake the city with our available forces?”
“Unfortunately, it’s unfeasible. If we split our forces after losing Fort Morok, we risk being defeated individually.”
“Furthermore, we have intelligence that the enemy is continuously reinforcing their troops. They seem to be planning to use Maniopol and Fort Morok as bases to advance inland.”
Adding the information officer’s input to the operations advisor’s opinion,
“There’s a risk of the encirclement weakening. According to the last fleeing coast guard, there were boats carrying mounted soldiers.”
“Mounted soldiers…?”
Identified as two infantry regiments,
And an unspecified number of cavalry units.
The faces of those listening to the briefing darkened rapidly.
Cavalry remained a crucial element on the battlefield. They could always exploit the enemy’s vulnerabilities as wildcards.
“It seems they came here with serious intentions.”
With Azoff deploying even cavalry, Ukraine’s military movements would inevitably be more constrained.
Deploying troops too hastily could result in the encirclement breaking, leading to the loss of not only Maniopol and Fort Morok but also the inland cities.
Considering how the city garrison performed, there was no guarantee that things would be any different there.
They were essentially left with no choice but to wait helplessly.
Even if they were high-ranking officers with stars and badges, they could only watch the situation unfold.
At that moment,
“Pardon me, may I speak?”
A young officer raised his hand among the ranks of senior officers. All heads turned simultaneously.
His blond hair drew everyone’s attention, and his cold, deep eyes made him appear intimidating.
“Captain Enok Revendale of the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit under the Special Response Brigade.”
Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit? Those who had known it simply as a battalion were momentarily puzzled by this unfamiliar name.
“Go ahead.”
Division Commander Kinbel accepted his statement.
“To cut to the chase, with our current available forces, we can definitely retake Maniopol.”
His voice full of confidence, Enok Revendale quickly captured the room’s atmosphere, standing beside the intelligence officer and pointing at the tactical map with his palm.
“There’s no need to push in masses of infantry.”
It was simple. Maniopol was a coastal city. The biggest concern for Division Commander Kinbel and the officers of the 32nd Division was that to breach the fortified city with only ground forces, they needed to enter through the gateways formed in the north and west.
Generally, to crush the enemy’s resistance, attackers needed three to four times the number of defenders.
Given that Azoff had mobilized two regiments, the 32nd Division, which had yet to fully recover, was struggling just to maintain its encirclement.
Approaching from the coast was impossible without naval cooperation. Even with cooperation, there was no guarantee of a 100% successful landing and retaking the city.
However, with the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit, it was possible.
They could infiltrate en masse through the air, neither by land nor sea.
Enok Revendale exchanged glances with Joseph Lebandovsky. This was something that had already been discussed with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph beforehand.
Even if they were a unit backed by the vice-king, the current commander was General Kinbel. Acting recklessly could provoke resentment.
Therefore, Enok and Joseph planned to move only after confirming the 32nd Division commander’s decision.
Sure enough, given the lack of alternatives, General Kinbel’s expression changed at Enok’s words.
“Explain in detail.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Enok approached the fumbling intelligence officer and took the pointer he was holding.
From this point on,
It was all Enok Revendale’s stage.
*
The situation in the city of Maniopol, occupied by Azoff, was nothing short of horrific.
As the city and coast guard withdrew while evacuating civilians, those who couldn’t escape were left behind in the city.
Soon, they had no choice but to confront Azoff’s looters.
“Come here!!”
“Kyaa!! Help me!!”
A girl was dragged into an alley by a large man grabbing her hair.
“Hey, you bastards!! Are you still human?!”
A young man tried to intervene, but a gunshot rang out, and his body collapsed on the ground. People could only remain silent, watching the red blood stain the pavement.
“Anybody who wants to die again, come out! Kuhahaha!”
“Look, this looks like a bakery? The smell is crazy!”
“Take everything, baskets or whatever, take it all and go back!!”
The merciless looters swept through the shops, plundering food, furniture, and valuables.
Not only that, they set fire to houses that had lost their occupants and beat people even if they cooperated.
“Gack! Gekk!! I did as you said, packed everything, why…!!”
“What is this guy saying?”
“I don’t know, just kill him.”
Bang!!
Gunshots and people’s screams never ceased. Just a day ago, the city was still peaceful, but now it was completely destroyed.
Murder, arson, looting, and rape occurred everywhere.
These were clear war crimes, but these terrible destroyers from Azoff had no sense of having to follow laws.
Whether soldiers or civilians, whether old or young, they were nothing more than amusing entertainment to them.
“…Hey, wait a moment.”
“Huh?”
“That one looks okay—wait right there!!”
A soldier who had been kicking fallen bodies noticed a woman hiding in an alley and shouted. As she tried to flee, he chased after her.
The city was already taken.
Why waste energy capturing someone when she would only suffer worse?
The soldier threw away his gun and pursued the woman. Her distinctive red hair made her easy to find.
“Bitch… I’ll make you suffer for real!”
“Kyaa!!”
“Where are you running to?!”
Finally catching up, he made a disgusting expression, about to strike the girl.
“Gak.”
A sharp dagger pierced the soldier’s neck instantly. Blood spurted out, and the girl, startled by the sight of the collapsing figure, turned her head.
“Hush…”
A man in black clothing put a finger to his lips.
